President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday expressed hope that the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir would help reduce the lack of trust between the institutions, he said. Committed to being free from politics.
In an interview to a private news channel, President Alvi praised the Army Chief and his approach. “The matter [of Army Chief’s appointment] is well settled for the next three years,” he said, adding that the COAS was appointed on merit.
Commenting on the meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan before the important military appointment, the President said that the former prime minister was informed about the consultation after receiving the summary, so he added. That consultation was held accordingly.
However, the President said that he should refrain from commenting on the appointment of the Army Chief as it is the right of Parliament.
General Munir was handed over the command of the army by General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa in a ceremony held at General Headquarters Rawalpindi on November 29.
‘Double game’
Regarding Imran Khan’s remarks on former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, President Alvi said: “Khan’s comments on former Army Chief General Bajwa’s double game are based on his own experience. shall be.”
Last week, for the first time after spending three-and-a-half years with former army chief General Bajwa, the PTI chief said: “Giving him [General Bajwa] an extension was my biggest mistake.”
“I will trust whatever General Bajwa says. I will tell him that we are both thinking of the country. Our goal is one – to save the country,” Khan had said.
The former prime minister further said that I don’t know how he was lied to and cheated.
‘Dar tried to improve the situation’
Throwing light on the ongoing debate between the PTI and the coalition government, the President said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has the ability to reconcile matters.
“During the PTI sit-in [in 2014] Dar tried to improve the situation,” he revealed, adding that he was apprised of the economic situation during a meeting with the finance czar today.
Sources had earlier told JEE News that Dar has sought President Alvi’s help to win over the PTI to implement the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
Sources also said that the Finance Minister requested the President for PTI’s support to bring political stability to the country and implement Pakistan’s agreement with the IMF.
Meanwhile, President Alvi reiterated Dar’s stance that Pakistan will not default. I gave Dar a suggestion regarding energy conservation. Markets should be closed first to save three to four thousand megawatts of electricity.
Dissolution of Assemblies
The President further said that the coalition government and PTI should sit down and discuss the general elections.
Earlier today PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Imran Khan has decided to dissolve the assemblies of Punjab and KP in the next few days.
Qureshi revealed that PTI wants to form new governments in both provinces before Ramadan.
According to reports, talks between the current government and the opposition regarding the date of general elections are going on as the PTI is constantly pressuring the government to hold snap polls.
